Articles from last year
No Dam for the Baram: Powerful statement from the chairman of the Orang Ulu Association in Miri
This press statement was released on the 29th of August, 2011.
“Flood from the
dam and the infrastructure associated with the construction will
definitely bring irreparable damage to the whole environment. It will
destroy a heritage for which all Malaysian or human race should respect
and harness.”
For more information on mega-dams in Borneo, please visit: http://borneoproject.org/our-work/ongoing-campaigns/stop-the-dams
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NO DAM FOR BARAM
Besides the colossal environmental devastation and severe consequence on the ecosystem that the dreadful Baram Dam will bring, it will also rage a permanent degeneration of the ethnic identity and heritage of the populaces who live in the region. Based on the number of villagers, the most affected are the Kenyah followed by the Kayan and Penan population. These are also the same majority groups of people who are most affected by the Bakun Dam which was just commissioned. The same like it was done in Bakun, the decision in building the Baram Dam seems to be in total disregard for all those who area affected. It is built for the benefit of others rather than those who live in Baram and for the long term good of the Baram.
As one of those affected I just can’t understand this
injustice and this outrageous and abusive exploit. This seems to be a
senseless exploitation which is primarily driven by avarice coupled with
immorality. For us who are directly and adversely affected parties, no
one can blame us in thinking that this is a calculated, intentional and
purposeful manoeuvre to wipe out our races. Why it could be seen as an
act in complete disregard for our wellbeing and opinion could be proven
by the priority given to the preparatory construction activities done
even before the proper Social Impact Assessment (SIA) and the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are completed or perhaps not even
started and made accessible to affected and interested parties. In doing
this, it seems the construction of the dam is to be implemented
whatever the findings or recommendation would eventually be available if
and when the EIA or SIA is done.
The
Baram is the least developed part of Sarawak and arguably the least
developed area in the whole of Malaysia. So far, the only so called
“development” which are seen in Baram are the colossal and exhaustive
exploitation or extraction of the Baram natural resources; these are
like reckless harvestings of the timber, extraction of lime stone, sand
dredging, vast oil palm plantations and now the dam for hydropower
electrical generation. So far, practically all the beneficiaries of
these so called developments are big companies owned by big tycoons from
outside the Baram. Most of the workers employed at these facilities are
also from outside Baram and a lot of them are foreigners. So to say
that these “development” bring employment is a fantasy. Like all the
past exploitation of the Baram resources there is little doubt that
employment spin-off from the proposed dam is “just a pie in the sky” for
the Baramites. As seen at the construction stage of the Bakun and Murum
dams, the locals are not employed in significant numbers during the
construction or their involvement in the operations after completion of
the construction. We do not see how the dam can bring significant
economic opportunities for the locals.
Recently, I had a conversation with the headman from
one of the village which is within the proposed reservoir area of the
Baram Dam. He criticised those who do not plant rubber or not building
new longhouse for fear that these would be flooded when the dam is
completed; he said that he did not believe that the government would
build such a dam. He said that if such a dam was to be built, the
government would have already been busy consulting the affected people
and getting their consent. The reaction by this particular headman
reflects the effectiveness of the discreet process practiced in building
the dam. The dam construction although it will affect a lot of people,
at the moment is one dark secret kept away from those living in Baram.
If it is occasionally mentioned by the proponents, the subject would be
down-played, watered-down with downright euphemism. However, the reality
as we learnt from newspaper reports and information dripping from the
project supporters speaks of an affected area covering 38,900 hectares
(389 sq km) or ½ the size of Singapore Island. It will be constructed of
around 180 metres above seal level and will generate 1,200 MW of
electrical power. So, with these realities no one can blame the fear
which was noted by the headman. This fear is shared by many in the whole
of Baram whether they are living above or below the proposed dam site.
At least 90% of the land mass which will be flooded
by the dam’s reservoir will be the Native Customary Rights land (NCR).
The foreseeable fiasco resulting from this will no doubt be contributed
by the now famous government’s interpretation of NCR which differ from
that of the native’s custom (Adat). The native’s interpretation is
recognised by the judiciary as proven by the various court cases where
the native claimants have won. This will again result in more cases of
dissatisfaction among the people affected. With the single mindedness of
the government in constructing the dam, the people, for whom they are
supposed to bring development, will unavoidably be marginalised. For the
Orang Ulu their very survival from generation to generation has been
based on the land. They are basically farmers and gatherers. To
disregard this fact would be to purposefully disorientated and thus
destroy the harmonious way of life. Flood from the dam and the
infrastructure associated with the construction will definitely bring
irreparable damage to the whole environment. It will destroy a heritage
for which all Malaysian or human race should respect and harness.
Relocation of the people to make way for the Baram
Dam will definitely result in a permanent social damage. The Kenyah and
Kayan people traditionally live in longhouses. Even the very structures
of the longhouses are traditional in nature, reflecting the social
structure of the communities and thus keeping the Kenyah and Kayan
together from time immemorial, enabling them to face famine, wars,
epidemics and natural tragedies. These structures are delicate and are
now facing a lot of challenges from modern lifestyles and globalisation.
Mass relocation of the people will no doubt spell the end of the
traditional social structure.
In the traditional Kenyah and Kayan community, each
longhouse normally comprise a group of people who are of the same
dialect. For the Kenyah they could be Lepo Tau, Badeng, Lepo Aga, Jamuk,
Long Sebatu etc. For the Kayan they could be Uma Baluvah, Uma Kelep,
Uma Pu etc. The people of each dialect have from generation to
generation, their bonds to each other make it possible for them to live
in a family like attitude towards one another. Even in the face of large
rural-urban migration, the Kenyah and Kayan consider their ancestral
villages as their real home. They maintain their houses in the Baram and
they normally go back on festive occasions like Pusau Anak, Christmas
or Suen. Relocation of the people for the dam would also pose a direct
challenge to this bond that is part of the social structure.
The social structure of the dam will not bring
development but severe and permanent damage to the whole environment and
the people. Development must be for the immediate and long term good of
all the people with minimal, repairable or no damage to the
environment. The decision for major project like the construction of
massive dams should be made by the people. It must be a collective
decision, which is made based on well informed decision. The people must
know the pros and cons of the dam. Information must be made available
freely to them and only after that can they decide. So looking at the
proposed Baram Dam, none of these are met. Baram Dam is not required to
bring development to Baram.
Press Statement release by:
Peter N. J. Kallang
Chairman Orang Ulu National Association Miri (OUNA)
Chairman Persatuan Kenyah Association Miri
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For more information, please contact Peter Kallang 013-8331104, Philip Jau 016-8597738
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